Sir Elton John renews calls for gay marriage in California

Sir Elton John has renewed calls for California’s same-sex marriage ban to be overturned, insisting as a gay man he “has it all”, but he doesn’t have the “respect” of politicians.

The singer exchanged vows with his partner David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony in his native Britain back in 2005, just days after the law to allow homosexual unions was introduced in the U.K.

Sir Elton was deeply disappointed when California’s gay marriage law was overturned by the Proposition 8 legislation in 2008, and on Wednesday night he performed at a fundraising event in Los Angeles to boost the campaign for change.

The Rocket Man, who became a father at Christmas to a son born via a surrogate mother, spoke out during his set to underline his support for the campaign.

He told the crowd, “As a gay man. I think I have it all. I have a wonderful career, a wonderful life. I have my health, I have a partner of 17 years and I have a son. And you know what, I don’t have everything, because I don’t have the respect of people like the church, and people like politicians who tell me that I am not worthy or that I am ‘less than’ because I am gay. Well (expletive) you.”

He later added, “Even though I’m British, I’ll be here at the forefront of anything you guys want.”

The event raised $3 million for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.